Replies

1. 
   RW | Nov 14, 2002 02:07am | #1

   Well hello, newguy. Some guys build something of a woodworkers humidity meter by gluing different species of wood together. When the humidity changes, the wood moves, and the little indicator goes all the way over the other direction. Now, picture that in a table. That's what you're in for. And you're gluing the panels together, two different species, the first time the temp and humidity changes, splitsville. So, advice. If you want plum, use plum. I've never seen it done, that ought to be a learning experience. Maybe it's a great wood (seriously, I really don't know) but save the maple. If you want to laminate it to save on precious boards, resaw on a bandsaw and laminate very thin layers to a stable substrate, such as MDF (veneering). But I am curious, wherein did you devise this plan and what were you looking to do / avoid doing by the laminating of these two opposed spirits?

1. 
   Bangee1 | Nov 14, 2002 10:46pm | #2

   Thanks for your advice.  I was trying to make use of a limited supply of the plum...have lots of maple.  The plum is only 1/2 in thickness, thats why I wanted to glue the two species together to make the   thickness needed for a table top. The plum is like cherry...very hard,  fine grain, and a reddish color.  I also wanted to use solid wood, not plywood, etc...guess I'm a stubborn purist,sorta....

1. 
   johnhardy | Nov 15, 2002 01:57am | #3

   My own guess here is that the cracking with the plum/ply combo was because the ply didn't expand/contract with humidity and temperature changes much at all, whereas the plum wanted to ... and this created tremendous stresses, leading to the cracking. Having maple underneath is much closer to a solid plum top, so I'd think the stresses would be much less severe.

   I'd give it a shot but have another esthetic concern. To me, a table with a half inch top with another half inch layer below, which was clearly a different species, would look weird. You could solve this by putting a band of plum on the outside of the lower, maple, layer so that from the side the table looked like solid plum (albeit with half inch stock glued to half inch stock to make a full inch thick table). If you're doing a breadboard end, I'd to that in solid plum so that the end was pleasing also (one species).

   John

2. 
   flonji | Nov 15, 2002 12:28pm | #4

   Nothing wrong in being a stubbon purist but I feel that you will have yourself a solid headache if you continue to bang your head against the plumtree. It is hard, fine grain and has some beautiful color, but that will not stop it from cracking, twisting and generally doing its' own thing, and it will have more patience in maintaining this atitude. In your position I would save it for banding, edging, etc.